Six persons miraculously survived when an industrial explosion apparently triggered by stored ammonia totally destroyed on Saturday half of a five-story building in Malabon City.

Senior Supt. Roberto Villanueva, Malabon City police chief, said the explosion occurred at about 2:30 a.m. at the carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas building located inside the sprawling Globe Paper Mills located along Governor Pascual Avenue, Barangay Potrero in Malabon City.

Villanueva said although the explosion occurred at dawn, it was only at about 8 a.m., or five hours after the incident, before police and other authorities were permitted by the management to enter the sprawling compound.

"We will try to determine why it took the management so long to let the authorities and members of the media to enter the compound and we will charge them accordingly if they are found to have willfully prevented an early investigation," Villanueva said.

He also identified the injured individuals as Oscar Moldes, 35; Elmer Lancha, 44; Mario Abay, 57; Lolito Saycon, 55; Danile Anog, 38 and Rene Paminiano. They were brought to MCU Hospital in Caloocan City. None of them were in serious condition.

The explosion turned half of the building into a mess of twisted steel and destroyed concrete beams. Some of the debris were thrown almost 1,000 meters from the structure.

Even the perimeter wall of a factory 100 meters away, identified as Lucky Blue Design Corporation, was destroyed when one of the concrete cylinders hit the concrete barrier.

Initial investigation conducted by the police showed that building used to be the storage area for the industrial gas requirements of the paper mills but was since abandoned after floodwaters caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” submerged it last year.

Malabon Mayor Tito Oreta immediately sent a team composed of building and health officials to determine if there are still existing danger that may harm the adjacent neighborhoods after residents complained of bad odor apparently coming from the destroyed structure.